Holder for laptop computer

ABSTRACT

A holder system for supporting and accommodating a laptop computer or other device comprises —an extendable/retractable carrier system provided with frame portion means for attachment to a tabletop; —a holder and support member for holding and/or accommodating and/or supporting a laptop computer or other device, and —pivot means pivotally connecting said carrier system and said holder and support member, whereby the holder and support member can be brought from a substantially vertical orientation to a substantially horizontal orientation when the carrier system is in its extended or drawn out position. The holder system according to the invention is provided with a pull handle and associated rod system enabling locking of the holder and support member in the horizontal position by releasable engagement between a distal end portion of the rod system and corresponding engagement means provided on said frame portion means of the holder system.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates generally to holders for devices such as a laptop computer that is typically used on or at a table and more specifically to such holders provided with means for protecting a device housed in or supported on the holder against theft.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An increasing number of laptop computers is being sold today partly due to the desirable mobility offered by such devices and partly due to the fact that the capabilities (processing speed, data storage capacity etc.) of such portable computers have reached a level where they can cover the requirements of most users. Therefore, laptop computers are often used in the same manner as stationary computers are being used, for instance in the office. Often a so-called docking station is applied, which connects the laptop computer with the network (LAN) of the office and hence external communication networks such as the Internet and with the display screen, computer mouse, keyboard or other external devices. The laptop computer is now used in the same manner and substantially with the same functionalities as the stationary computer. The laptop computer is often placed on the user's desk together with the docking station and a number of cables and hence occupies a not inconsiderable amount of space on the desktop, which is a distinct disadvantage to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

On the above background it is an object of the present invention to provide means for holding a laptop computer or similar portable device and optionally for connecting it to a docking station, if required, in such a manner that the desktop of the user is kept free from the laptop computer, docking station and the various cables used to establish the necessary interconnections.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a holder of the above kind provided with means for protecting a laptop computer or other device housed in or supported on said holder against unauthorised use of the device or against theft.

According to the principles of the invention the laptop or other device is when not in use removed from a traditional position on the tabletop of for instance a desk to a position beneath the tabletop in such a manner that it takes up as limited a space beneath the tabletop as possible, hence not interfering with for instance the legs of a person seated at the desk.

The above and other objects and advantages are attained with a holder system according to the invention comprising:

-   (a) an extendable/retractable carrier system provided with means for     attachment to a tabletop or similar object; -   (b) a holder and support member for holding/accommodating and     supporting a laptop computer or other device, said member being     connected to said carrier system such that the holder and support     member by extension/retraction of the carrier system can be     displaced relative to said tabletop, between a retracted position     where the holder and support member is located at least partly below     the tabletop and an extended or drawn out position where the holder     and support member is entirely free of the tabletop; -   (c) pivot means pivotally connecting said carrier system and said     holder and support member, whereby the holder and support member can     be brought from a substantially vertical orientation to a     substantially horizontal orientation when the carrier system is in     its extended or drawn out position.

According to the invention there is furthermore provided a cover or lid member which together with a handle member makes access to the computer or other device in the holder system impossible when the holder system is in its retracted position totally or at least partly beneath the tabletop.

A number of advantages are attained by the holder system according to the invention:

1. The usable area of the tabletop is increased by removal of the laptop computer from this area. 2. No inconvenience will be caused by the above-mentioned cables. 3. The laptop computer will not inconvenience the user as it is not placed under the desk but is in stead suspended in the holder system at an end of the desk. A shorter desk may hence for instance be applied without the person sitting at the desk being annoyed by the presence of the computer, for instance in a drawer below the tabletop. 4. The laptop computer or the holder and support member itself can be used as an extra table when the holder is placed in a horizontal position. 5. The laptop computer can be secured against theft or unauthorised usage when it is suspended below the desk.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The holder system according to the present invention will be more fully understood with reference to the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention and to the appended figures where FIGS. 1 through 18 relate to a first embodiment of the invention, FIGS. 19 through 23 relate to a second embodiment and FIGS. 24 through 33 relate to a third embodiment. Specifically:

FIG. 1 shows a holder system according to a first embodiment of the invention shown in a retracted, vertical position under the tabletop of a desk or table;

FIG. 2 shows the holder system of FIG. 1 shown in an extended state, but with the holder still in the vertical position;

FIG. 3 shows various details of the holder system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a detail of the holder system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows the holder system of FIG. 1 with the holder brought to a horizontal position parallel with the tabletop;

FIG. 6 shows further details of the holder system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 shows the holder system of FIG. 1 with a handle member rotated to an open state providing access to a laptop computer placed on the holder;

FIG. 8 shows a laptop computer supported by the holder system of the invention;

FIG. 9 shows various members of the holder system of the invention used to secure the holder in the horizontal position;

FIGS. 10 and 11 show the holder system of FIG. 1 and attachment and support means for a laptop computer;

FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 show a cover portion used to cover the holder and laptop computer when the holder system is in its retracted, vertical position;

FIGS. 15, 16, 17 and 18 show attachment means for attaching the holder system according to the invention to a tabletop;

FIGS. 19( a) and 19(b) show a second embodiment of the holder system according to the invention;

FIG. 20 shows the holder system of FIG. 19 in an extended, vertical position;

FIG. 21 shows the holder system of FIG. 19 in an extended, horizontal position;

FIG. 22 shows the holder system of FIG. 19 with the cover in an open state;

FIG. 23 shows an alternative view of the holder system as shown in FIG. 22; and

FIGS. 24 to FIG. 33 show a third embodiment of the holder system according to the invention depicted in various operational states.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The invention is illustrated in the following with reference to three specific embodiments hereof, but it is understood that other embodiments may be envisaged by a person skilled in the art without such embodiments deviating from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

With reference to FIG. 1 there is thus shown a first embodiment of the holder system according to the invention generally indicated by reference numeral 1. The holder system is shown in its retracted, vertically extending position under the tabletop 2 of for instance a desk. The holder system comprises basically a holder and support part 3 for holding and supporting a laptop computer 4. This holder and support part 3 is attached to the bottom surface of the tabletop by means of an extendable/retractable carrier system to be described in detail in the following by means of which system the holder and support member 3 can be displaced between the retracted position under the tabletop as shown in FIG. 1 and an extended position, where the holder and support member is free of the tabletop and thereby able to undergo a rotational movement bringing it to a substantially horizontal position parallel with the tabletop. FIG. 1 furthermore shows a pull handle 7 for pulling the holder and support member 3 outwardly into the extended position free of the tabletop and a lock 5 for locking the holder and support member 3 in its retracted position tinder the tabletop as shown in FIG. 1. The holder system is furthermore in the shown embodiment provided with a docking station 6 for the computer, although the provision of a docking station is to be regarded as an option. Finally the holder system according to this embodiment comprises a shield or cover 101 which in the retracted position shown in FIG. 1 surrounds the holder and support member 3 and the laptop computer 4. The holder system is furthermore provided with a pivotal handle member 8, which when in the position shown in FIG. 1 prevents the laptop computer 4 from being drawn out of the cover 10 in a manner to be described in more detail in the following. When the lock 5 is locked, the cover 10 and the handle member 8 thus secure the laptop computer against theft. The extendable/retractable carrier system is attached to the bottom surface of the tabletop via a frame portion 50 (not shown in FIG. 1 but visible for instance in FIG. 3, 4, 18 or 19 among others) to be described in some more detail in the following.

Referring to FIG. 2 there is shown the holder system of FIG. 1 in a state where the holder and support member 3 has been extended or drawn out to an extended state free of the tabletop 2. The laptop computer 4 is in this state supported by the central portion 16 of the handle member 8 and rests furthermore on abutment means 9, for instance rubber blocks.

Referring to FIG. 3 there is shown the holder and support member 3 in the extended/drawn out state seen from the bottom side of this member in order to show various constructional details of the system. The holder and support member itself comprises basically side portions 13 and a central support portion 14 upon which the laptop computer 4 may rest for instance during application hereof. The holder and support member 3 is pivotally (as symbolically indicated by reference numeral 17) connected to a system of rails 11, 12, such that the holder and support member can be rotated about a longitudinal axis X from the shown vertical position to the horizontal position shown in the following. Between the central portion of the support portion 14 and the rail member 12 there is provided a gas cylinder or compression spring member 15, which on rotating the holder and support member 3 from the vertical to the horizontal position aids this movement and which tends to prevent a sudden, unintentional rotation of the holder and support member 3 from the horizontal back to the vertical position. The figure furthermore depicts the pull handle 7, which is partly used for pulling out the holder and support member 3 to its extended state, but which also performs a locking function as described in connection with FIG. 6 below. In the shown embodiment, the pull handle 7 continues in a rod member comprising sections 7′, 7″, 7′″ and 7″″, but other designs would be possible also. The rail member 11 is according to this embodiment formed as a telescopic member comprising sections 11′ and 11″ and serves to provide vertical stability/rigidity of the rail system 11, 12 at any degree of extension of the holder and support member 3 from its initial position as shown for instance in FIG. 1. The rail member 11 is mounted on a further rail member 12, which when the holder and support member 3 is being extended or drawn out slides against a fixed abutment means. An embodiment of such means is shown in FIG. 4 where the top portion 12′ of the rail member 12 during displacement of the rail member 12 remains in engagement with tap members or rollers 8 (that may be fixed). Other guide systems could also be envisaged.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the holder and support member 3 is now swung as indicated by the arrow A from its vertical position shown in the preceding figures to its horizontal position shown in FIG. 5. The gas cylinder or compression spring member 15 aids this movement as described previously. As the holder and support member 3 reaches the horizontal position, the pull handle 7 and associated rod members 7′, 7″ 7′″ and 7′″ lock the holder and support member in the horizontal position. This is accomplished by the means shown in FIG. 6.

Thus FIG. 6 shows the rod portion 7″″ of the rod system associated with the pull handle 7 passed through a mounting member 22. Between this mounting member 22 and a collar 21 provided on and attached to the rod portion 7″″ there is provided a compression spring 20 urging the distal end of the rod portion 7″″ against a plate member 18 fixed to the frame portion 50, i.e. to the attachment structure by which the holder system is attached to the tabletop. The plate member 18 is provided with an opening for engagement with the distal end portion of the rod 7′″. Thus, when the holder and support member 3 reaches the horizontal position, the distal rod end is brought into engagement with this opening urged by the spring member 20, and the holder and support member 3 locks in the horizontal position. By pulling the pull handle 7, the distal rod end 7″″ is brought out of engagement with the opening 19 and the holder and support member 3 can be swung back to its vertical position.

As shown in FIG. 7 the holder and support member 3 is now in the position where the laptop computer 4 can be used or where either the upper surface of the computer or of the holder and support member 3 itself can be used as an extension of the tabletop 2. In order to be able to open the compute, the handle member 8, 16 is rotated as shown in FIG. 7, whereby the screen portion 26 of the computer 4 can be opened as shown in FIG. 8. In this state of the system (and of the computer) it is advantageous to prevent unintentional release of the holder and support system 3 caused by accidentally pulling the pull handle 7. To avoid this, rotation of the handle member 8, 16 into the open position as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 results in that the pull handle 7 and associated rod sections 7′, 7″, 7′″ and 7″″ by rotation of the handle member to its open position lock the pull handle and associated rod system in its engagement with the mounting member 22 described above.

This locking function of the handle member 8, 16 is described with reference to FIG. 9. An end portion 8′ of the handle member 8 is passed through the mounting member 22 and provided with a gripper member 24, which rotates with the end portion 8′ of the handle member 8. A spring member 25 urges the gripper member 24—and hence the handle member 8, 16—in the rotational direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 9. Thus, when the handle member 8, 16 is being opened, the end portion 26 of the gripper member 24 is brought to rest against the rod portion 7″″, which is provided with a collar 23 fixed to the rod portion 7″″. By engagement between the collar 23 and the end of the gripper member 24, retracing of the pull handle 7 and associated rod system 7′, 7″, 7′″ and 7″″ is thereby prevented when the handle member 8, 16 is in its open position.

With the handle member 8, 16 in its open position, it is possible to release the laptop computer 4 and docking station 6 from the holder and support member 3 or to mount them hereon. The docking station 6 can be secured to the surface of the holder and support member by various means for instance by means of a Velcro strip 27. In order to offer further support for the computer when in the vertical position, the surface of the holder and support member can furthermore be provided with abutment means for instance a pair of rubber blocks 9 as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

Referring to FIG. 12 there is now shown an embodiment of a cover portion 10 used to cover the holder and support member 3 and the laptop computer 4 when the holder system is in its retracted, vertical position, as shown for instance in FIG. 1. The cover 10 according to this embodiment comprises curved or planar side portions 10′ that may be provided with a pattern of through apertures, the side portions 10′ being connected by a bottom portion 29. The structure thus formed is laterally flexible, thus facilitating mounting and/or removal of the cover 10 to/from the holder system. The cover 10 is at the upper portion of the side portions provided with inwardly extending edge portions 10″ provided with openings 28 for attachment means for instance screws for the cover 10.

Attachment of the holder and support system 3 and of the cover portion 10 to the tabletop 2 is according to a specific embodiment accomplished by means of an attachment member 30 that may be attached to the bottom surface of the tabletop 2 by screws as schematically shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. The mounting of the frame portion 50 of the holder system by means of attachment member 30 is probably most apparent from FIGS. 15, 17 and 18 that shows the holder and support member 3 in its extended, vertical state, free of the tabletop 2 and of the cover 10. It is to be specifically noted that when the holder and support member 3 is in its retracted position within the cover 1, access to the fastening screws 31 is in fact prevented and provided the holder and support member 3 is locked by the lock 5 as described previously, unauthorised release of the holder system according to the invention from the tabletop 2 is thereby effectively prevented.

The attachment member 30 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 16 and 17 and comprises a central portion and lateral edge portions 32, the surface of which is displaced relative to the surface of the central portion.

FIG. 18 shows mounting of the holder system according to the invention on the tabletop 2 by means of the attachment member 30, 32. An upper frame portion 50 of the holder system, to which the rail members 11, 12 described previously carrying and guiding the holder and support member 3 are attached, is according to the shown embodiment provided with tongue members 33 for engagement with the edge portions 32 of the attachment member 30. Thus, the upper frame portion 50 can slide along the edge portions 32 on mounting the holder system to the tabletop. Also the cover portion 10 can be attached to the edge portions 32 by screws or other means through the openings 28 in the edge portions 10″ of the cover 10.

With reference to FIGS. 19 through 23 there is now shown a second embodiment of the holder system according to the invention. Constructional elements and members identical with those of the first embodiment shown and described previously are indicated by the same reference numerals and will generally not be described again.

Referring to FIGS. 19( a) and 19(b) there is thus shown a second embodiment of the holder system according to the invention generally indicated by reference numeral 34. The cover 10 which in the first embodiment described above was attached to the tabletop by means of the attachment member 30, 32 and hence to the bottom surface of the tabletop is in this embodiment replaced by the lid portion 35 pivotally attached to the holder and support member 3 partly via a pivotable rod member 37 (preferably one on either side of the lid portion, but only one of these being visible in FIG. 19) and partly via the handle member 8, which in this embodiment is pivotally attached to the lid 35 as indicated by reference numeral 51 (most apparent in FIG. 22). The upper frame portion 50 used for attaching the holder system to the tabletop as described previously is according to the second embodiment provided with a retainment member or plate 36 for preventing the lid portion 35 from being opened, when the holder and support member 3 is in its retracted position under the tabletop. The retainment member 36 is either a separate member attached to the upper frame portion 50 or formed as an integral part of the upper frame portion 50.

When the holder and support member 3 is in its retracted position under the tabletop, the lid 35 is being prevented from opening due to a retaining engagement between the upper (as seen in FIGS. 19( a) and 19(b)) lid portion and the lower portion of the retainment member 36. This is more clearly shown in FIG. 19( b), according to which the retainment member 36 at its lower edge is provided with a laterally extending edge portion 36′ abutting against the upper lid portion. As an opening of the lid 35 due to its pivotal attachment to the holder and support member 3 by means of the rod 37 and the handle member 8 will require a certain upward displacement of the lid 35 relative to the holder and support member 3 and hence to the upper frame portion 50 and the attachment member 36, the required upward displacement can not take place and the lid 35 is kept in its closed position by the retainment member 36.

When the holder and support member 3 is extended/drawn out from its initial vertical position under the tabletop, the upper lid portion and the edge portion 36′ of the retainment member 36 are brought out of engagement with each other as shown in FIG. 20 with the result that it now becomes possible to open the lid 35, which will typically take place after the holder and support member 3 has been brought to the horizontal position as shown in FIG. 21. This situation is shown in FIGS. 22 and 23. In this state, where the lid is actually opened, the handle member 8 will lock the holder and support member in its horizontal position as described previously.

With reference to FIGS. 24 through 33 there is now shown a third embodiment of the holder system according to the invention generally indicated by reference numeral 38.

FIGS. 24 and 25 thus illustrate the holder system 38 positioned in its retracted, vertical position below the tabletop 2 and basically comprising a cover 41, a holder and support member 3 and rail members 11, 12 for allowing extension and retraction of the holder and support member 3 in a manner similar to the one described previously in connection with the first embodiment. In the retracted state shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, the cover 41 can not be opened as it is locked by the tongue member 39, which is fixedly attached to the attachment means used for attaching the holder system 38 to the tabletop 2. The holder and support member 3 is prevented from being displaced to the drawn out position shown in FIGS. 26 and 27 by a locking member 42. In order to keep the laptop computer stationary within the holder, the inner surface of the cover 41 is provided with a sheet of resilient material 43 such as foam rubber. The provision of a sheet (of sufficient thickness) of resilient material also provides for the possibility of the holder to accommodate laptop computers of different thickness.

Referring to FIGS. 26 and 27, the holder with the laptop is now shown in a drawn out position relative to the tabletop. The holder and support member 3 is carried by a system of displaceable rail members 11, for instance forming a telescopic configuration, i.e. the various individual rail members are accommodated within each other, although other arrangements of displaceable rail members may also be conceived and fall within the scope of the present invention. The holder and support member 3 is locked in the shown vertically suspended state by the handle member 44, but by releasing/drawing out this handle member 44, the holder and support member 3 can rotate about a hinge portion 51 (FIG. 29) to the horizontally extending state shown in the following figures.

Referring to FIGS. 28 and 29, the holder and support member 3 with the laptop computer 4 is now shown rotated to an elevated horizontal position, where the upper surface of the cover 41 can extend in parallel with the tabletop 2 although the upper surface may also extend at an angle relative to the tabletop. The upper surface of the cover 41 may extend substantially at the same vertical level as the upper surface of the tabletop 2 or at other levels if desired. The holder and support member 3 is brought to the horizontal position by releasing/drawing out the handle member 44 as explained above. A spring member 45 or gas cylinder as previously described facilitates the rotation of the holder and support member 3 from the initial vertical position to the final horizontal position. When the horizontal position is reached, the handle member 44 automatically locks the holder and support member 3 in this position. During the described rotation of the holder and support member 3 from the initial vertical to the final horizontal position, the supporting or locking rod 46 provided between the bottom portion of the holder and support member 3 and the above mentioned system of rail members 11, 12 will approach a final supporting position, thus extending in a direction of for instance 45 degrees relative to the vertical plane, thereby providing extra support for the holder and support member 3 in the horizontal position.

Referring to FIGS. 30 and 31, the cover 41 is opened by activation of a snap fastener 48 or other equivalent means. Abutment members 9 are positioned for maintaining the laptop computer 4 in place on the holder and support member 3. The laptop computer 4 can now be operated from all sides.

Finally referring to FIGS. 32 and 33, the holder system 38 according to this embodiment of the invention is shown with the laptop computer 4 removed from the docking station 6. A sheet or panel 44 of a suitable material, for instance rubber, elevates the laptop computer from the upper surface of the holder, thereby offering increased possibility of cooling air supply to the laptop computer. The docking station 6 can be formed as an integral part of the holder or as a separate component attached to the holder by appropriate means such as Velcro tape 27, in which case the docking station 6 may be removed from the holder for alternative uses.

It is understood that although the holder system according to the invention in the preceding has been shown and described comprising a docking station for a laptop computer, this is not considered a limitation of the invention, and the holder system according to the invention may be used without a docking station. It may furthermore also be used for housing and supporting other objects or devices than the laptop computer described above attaining the same advantages with regard to space requirements under a tabletop and security against theft. 

1. A holder system for supporting and accommodating a laptop computer or other device comprising: (a) an extendable/retractable carrier system (11, 12) provided with frame portion means (50) for attachment to a tabletop (2); (b) a holder and support member (3) for holding and/or accommodating and/or supporting a laptop computer (4) or other device, said holder and support member (3) being connected to said carrier system (11, 12) such that the holder and support member (3) by extension/retraction of the carrier system (11, 12) can be displaced substantially parallel relative to said tabletop, between a retracted position, where the holder and support member (3) is located at least partly below the tabletop (2) and an extended or drawn out position, where the holder and support member (3) is entirely free of the tabletop (2); (c) pivot means pivotally connecting said carrier system (11, 12) and said holder and support member (3), whereby the holder and support member (3) can be brought from a substantially vertical orientation to a substantially horizontal orientation when the carrier system (11, 12) is in its extended or drawn out position.
 2. A holder system according to claim 1, characterised in that it is provided with a pull handle and associated rod system (7, 7′, 7″, 7′″, 7″″) enabling locking of the holder and support member (3) in the horizontal position by releasable engagement between a distal end portion (7″″) of the rod system and corresponding engagement means (18, 19) provided on said frame portion means (50) of the holder system.
 3. A holder system according to claim 2, characterised in that it comprises a handle member (8, 16) pivotally mounted so that the handle member (8, 16) can rotate between an open and a closed position, in the closed position extending from side portions (13) of the holder and support member (3) along side portions of a laptop computer (4) or other device housed and/or supported by the holder and support member (3), whereby the laptop computer is being prevented from removal from the holder and support member (3).
 4. A holder system according to claim 2, characterised in that said handle member (8, 16) is provided with a gripper member (24), which rotates with an end portion (8′) of the handle member (8), where the gripper member comprises a portion (26) for engagement with at least one of the sections (7′, 7″, 7′″, 7″″) of the rod system, and where said section is furthermore provided with a collar means (23) attached to the section of the rod system, whereby the rod system (7′, 7″, 7′″, 7″″) of the pull handle (7) is prevented from unlocking due to locking engagement between said collar means (23) and said portion (26) of the gripper means (24) when the handle member (8, 16) is in its open state.
 5. A holder system according to claim 1, characterised in that a gas cylinder or spring member (15) is provided between the holder and support member (3) and said carrier system (11, 12) impeding a rotational movement of the holder and support member (3) between said vertical and horizontal position or vice versa.
 6. A holder system according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises locking means (5) for locking the holder and support member (3) to the frame portion (50), when the holder and support member is in its retracted, vertical position.
 7. A holder system according to claim 1, characterised in that it is furthermore provided with a cover (10) at least partly surrounding the holder and support member (3), when this is in its retracted position at least partly under the tabletop (2), said cover (10) being attached either to the bottom surface of the tabletop (2) itself or to the frame portion (50) of the holder system.
 8. A holder system according to claim 7, characterised in that said cover (10) comprises curved or planar side portions (10′) at one end connected by a bottom portion (29) and at the opposite end provided with edge portions (10″) for attachment of the cover (10) to the tabletop (2) or to the frame portion (50).
 9. A holder system according to claim 1, characterised in that said holder and support member (3) is provided with a lid portion (35) pivotally attached (8, 37) to the holder and support member (3) and where said frame portion (50) is provided with a retainment member (56) for preventing opening of the lid portion (35), when the holder and support member (3) is at least partly in its retracted state, said opening being prevented by locking engagement between an upper edge portion of the lid portion (35) and a portion of said retainment member (36).
 10. A holder according to claim 9, characterised in that said portion of the retainment member (36) is a laterally extending edge portion (36′).
 11. A holder system according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises means (27) for attaching a docking station (6) to the holder and support member (3).
 12. A holder system according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a docking station (6). 